Incandescent-cathode device.



e. s. MEIKLE.

INCANDESCENT CATHODE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I5. 1916.

1 ,Q67,@@& Patenfed May 28, 1918.

inventor:

ounncn WEURGJE S. NEITHER 01E SCHENJECTdlDY, NEW YORK, assreiuou TS HEWID ELEUTRTS CUMPA NY, A CORPORATION OF NEW TU'MK rucaunnscnur-carnonn neuron.

Specification or Lettera Patent.

Patented tlay dd, rare.

application filed august it, ltlt. terlal lto. llhltt.

7 in is a specification.

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timeters of mercury'and a small he present invention relates to inclosed are devices and particularly devices having a refractory cathode adapted to operate at incandescence in a gaseous medium.

In Patent 1,182,290 issued to me on Ma 9, 1916, l[ have described and claimed a rectlfier having an incandescent cathode operating in an atmosphere of neutral gas, as for example argon or nitrogen.

In accordance with my present invention it have discovered that various advantages may be secured by the addition of a quantity of iodin to the neutral as. For example, the loss of voltage in t e are is lowered and is more constant than in ordinary pure argon. Uther advantages will behereinafter pointed out.

The accompanying drawing shows merel for illustrative purposes one form of arc device in which a gaseous filling embodying my invention may be .used.

The device shown in the drawing comprises a cathode 1, consisting of tungsten or other suitable refractory material, and an anode 2 consisting of tungsten, copper, graphite or other suitable conductive material. lln anode conductor 3 and cathode conductors 4L, 5, are sealed into the envelop 6 in the usual manner..

The device is first evacuated and freed from water vapor and then a desired amount of argon or other gas is introduced, for example, argon to the pressure of several cenuantity of iodin is introduced from a si e. tube which is then sealed ofi and removed.

The are drop of an arc in argon purified before introduction into the device by the usual chemical means is about 16 to 20 volts.

When iodin is present the arc drop is about 11 to 12 volts. The disintegration ot the cathode is apparently unafiected by the presence ofthe iodin. The are drop is more constant when iodin is present than with pure argon, nitrogen or other neutral gas. The arcing back voltage, or the voltage necessary to start an arc in a reverse direction in the device is greater than with pure argon, or other neutral gas. The presence of the argon, or other neutral gas enablesthe arc to-be started in the presence of gas without the necessity of first applying heat to vaporize the iodin and the neutral gas enables a desired gaseous pressure to hemaintained without requiring the tube to be operated at a high temperature.

What T claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent at the United States, is 2- l. The combination of a sealed container, a filling of neutral gas therein, a quantity of iodin, and cooperating electrodes at least one of which is adapte to operate at incandescence. V

2. The combination of a sealed container, a filling of argon gas, a quantity of iodin, and coiiperating electrodes, the cathode being adapted to operate at incandescence.

'3. A rectifier ot alternating currents comprising the combination ot a sealed container, a filling of argon, a quantity of iodin, a tungsten cathode, means for enabllngthe cathode to be heated to incandescence, and an anode having a largecenou h heat dissipating capacity to operate be ow ncandescence.

t. The combination of a sealed container, a filling of neutral gas therein at a pressure of about several centimeters or mercury, a

quantity of iodin, a cathode of refractory GEURSE S. imnmm. 

